In Zhejiang province, China, Liang, a former banker, celebrated his decision to resign from his job with an unconventional gathering. Friends, who had also bid farewell to their corporate roles, joined him in a jubilant party marked by gongs, drums, and a touch of traditional wedding symbolism.
Under a scarlet banner proclaiming “We’re done with this bullsh*t job!” Liang’s friends adorned him with a flower, reminiscent of marital customs. The venue was adorned with lanterns, banners, and “double happiness” signs typically seen at weddings, while tables groaned under the weight of sumptuous cuisine.
Each guest received an invitation that conveyed the message: “Hope you eat well and drink well, escape from the bitterness as soon as possible.”
Celebrating one’s departure from a stable job with an attractive salary may appear unusual, especially against the backdrop of China’s uncertain economic climate and its record-high youth unemployment rates. Yet, for individuals like Liang, aged 27, who transitioned into content creation and café ownership after quitting his job in May, the decision has brought greater happiness. Similar sentiments resonate online with others in comparable situations.
Liang shared his perspective, explaining, “I fell into mechanized, repetitive work. It consumed a lot of my energy,” and he also expressed feeling creatively stifled while working in a bank’s public relations department. “Your innovative ideas would have been dismissed and vanish eventually,” he added. For privacy reasons, CNN identifies Liang with a pseudonym.
Throughout the year, numerous posts detailing resignation parties have proliferated on Chinese social media. This trend has gained traction as China gradually emerges from its Covid-19-induced isolation, simultaneously grappling with the economic and social repercussions of the pandemic. The majority of participants in this trend are individuals in their 20s, citing a range of reasons for their resignations, spanning from low wages to burnout.
Maimai, often referred to as China’s LinkedIn equivalent, conducted a survey from January through October 2022, involving 1,554 employees across various sectors. The results revealed that 28% of respondents had resigned that year, and this number doubled among those who expressed an intention to quit but had not yet taken that step.
This phenomenon, akin to the Great Resignation observed in the United States, where nearly 50 million people left their jobs over two years, is gaining momentum in China. Young individuals, who have experienced fierce academic competition and the climb up the corporate ladder, now grapple with disillusionment as they seek more fulfilling paths.